Notts CCC star Samit Patel reflects on positives of overseas playing experience

Samit Patel spent the close season playing in the UAE, Australia and Pakistan before returning home to complete pre-season with Nottinghamshire.

“It’s obviously a real shame we’re not getting the chance to play right now,” he said.

“I’m optimistic we will get some cricket this summer but who knows when it will happen?”

“I was desperate to start the season and play in all forms of the game,” he said. “I’m feeling fit and strong and ready to go.”

The all-rounder has had a busy few months, which began in Abu Dhabi where he appeared for the Qalanders in the T10 Cricket League before Christmas.

No sooner had that been completed before he received a very welcome invitation from afar.

“Out of the blue I got a message from Harry Gurney wondering if I was free to go to Australia to join the Melbourne Renegades,” he said.

Gurney and Renegades’ skipper Dan Christian are both Nottinghamshire team-mates of Patel and were happy to sing the praises of the all-rounder as someone who might be able to do a job for the struggling Melbourne side.

“I didn’t need too long to think about it,” confessed the former England international.

“They said it was a long way to go for perhaps just a few matches but I knew it was great exposure. I’d never played in the Big Bash League before and absolutely loved it.

“In the end I played in eight matches and collected some great memories and visited some great places.

“I hadn’t played at The Gabba before. Ricky Ponting was working for tv there and came on to the outfield to chat beforehand. He told me which end to bowl from, as it would suit spin.

“DC (Christian) then put me on at the other end but it still spun nicely, I really enjoyed playing there.”

Patel acquitted himself well in the Renegades’ red and used the tournament to gain some valuable match practice ahead of his next assignment, with the Lahore Qalanders in the Pakistan Super League.

His form continued, delivering some outstanding performances, particularly in the two matches against Quetta Gladiators.

“In the first match against Quetta me and Ben Dunk put on 155,” he recalled. “It all kind of kicked on from there for me really.”

Patel had scored 71 from only 40 balls and then took the astonishing figures of four for five against the same opposition in their next meeting.

“Getting the opportunity to score some big runs with the bat was a big thing for me because that always gives you confidence ahead of your bowling,” he said.

“On turning wickets you are expected to do well with the ball but scoring runs when you are under pressure is always very satisfying.”

Qalanders’ hot streak had seen them through to a semi-final berth before the global pandemic brought a halt to proceedings.